Examples of Creative Digital Portfolio Artifact Contexts
The following chart describes some of the different types of “creative contexts” that can be
used to define meaningful and personal portfolio development experiences (note: these
examples primarily represent the work of K-12 learners).
Portfolio
Artifact Context
Type
Creation
Description
This type of portfolio artifact context
simply provides opportunities for
learners to create things and display
them within a digital format. All digital
portfolios are inherently “creation”
oriented because the artifacts included
in them are created or recreated in
digital format by the students.
Examples of
Communicating Portfolio
Artifacts to Others
“Christy”
http://www.electricteacher.com/portfo
lio/christy.htm
***********
“Adam”
http://www.nths.nvusd.k12.ca.us/
gallery/pages/Adam_Blatter/Default.h
tml
***********
“Teen Personal Homepages”
http://dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/
People_and_Society/Personal_Homep
ages/By_Teens/A/
***********
Various Student Projects
http://www.kent.wednet.edu/toolbox/
portfolio.html
http://www.hyperstudio.com/
showcase/mmania.html
Simulation
Situation
Exploration
These types of portfolios are designed
to allow the “viewer” to freely explore
within a simulated environment or
situation, or engage in competition,
cooperation, puzzles, or strategies.
Game
Stock Portfolio
http://www.mehs.educ.state.ak.us/
portfolios/coleman_stanford/colemans
_stocks.pdf
History Simulations
http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~l3d/
systems/agentsheets/New-Vista/newvista.html
Space Settlement
http://lifesci3.arc.nasa.gov/
SpaceSettlement/Contest/
Case-Based
Story
These portfolio types present stories
(fiction or non-fiction). Fictional story
elements such as characters, plot,
setting, and conflict are used as
“anchors” or themes to present specific
portfolio artifacts. Non-fiction story
elements, such as collected and
tabulated data, reflect elements of
cases that are often used to help
present specific artifacts as well.
“The Unwritten”
http://library.thinkquest.org/
C001313/fmain1.htm
Performance contexts enable the
learners to create for the sake of
contributing to an “event” experienced
by others. Performance contexts like
musical or dance recitals, plays, photo
or other art exhibits, poetry reading
etc. can necessitate the learning
and/or application of a variety of
worthwhile skills.
“Ceremony of Innocence” Demo
from the Real World Studios
Teaching
In this portfolio context type, learners
are presented with the challenge of
helping others to learn the SKA that
they are expected to learn themselves.
This may include the development of
demonstrations or other types of
presentations, as well as debates or
other persuasion experiences.
“Holes”
http://library.thinkquest.org/
J0113061/
Reference
Exploration
This context type allows the portfolio
“viewer” to freely explore and access
reference-type information.
“Gandhi”
http://library.thinkquest.org/
26523/
WebQuest
Development
Presenting a “WebQuest” development
project for students encourages them
to develop inquiry-oriented activities in
which some or all of the information
with which their intended learners
must interact comes from resources on
the Web.
WebQuest Examples
Communication
These “diary-type” portfolio contexts
involve learners communicating their
thoughts, ideas, reflections etc. These
contexts are often organized and
presented by time/date.
Web Logs, or “Blogs”
Performance
http://realworld.on.net/rwmm/ceremo
ny/demo/playindex.html
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/matrix.html
www.blogger.com
And here are some good places to start looking for AMAZING Web-based and other
computer-based material developed by students and teachers:
http://www.thinkquest.org
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/
http://www.kent.wednet.edu/toolbox/portfolio.html
http://www.hyperstudio.com/showcase/mmania.html
Excerpt from Instructional Technology Toolbox © 2002 Greg Sherman
Permission granted to reproduce for educational purposes.